Cybercrime seems unstoppable, continuously revealing the strategies hackers employ to launch their attacks and seize sensitive information, bank accounts, and user profiles across various platforms. These methodologies encompass a range of scams and strategies, from email chains, text messages, and calls, to developing fake applications designed to steal this information unnoticed by the user.
Cybercriminals manipulate fake VPNs to initiate their cyberattacks. However, these security services have now been infiltrated, with various applications on the market posing as transparent and trustworthy platforms. In reality, they are targeting the money people have in their bank accounts, accessible through their own mobile phones.
Be Aware: Cybersecurity Risks from Questionable VPN Services
Kaspersky, a leading name in cybersecurity, has raised the alarm about specific VPN services that pose significant threats to mobile users. These apps may appear harmless, but they could be jeopardizing your personal information and financial security.
The company urges users to uninstall these six suspicious applications immediately. Keeping them on your device might expose your personal details and grant unauthorized access to critical services, including your bank accounts. These counterfeit VPNs operate by transforming your mobile devices into proxy servers. This setup allows cybercriminals to execute their illegal activities discreetly, without raising any red flags.
Potential Dangers: What Hackers Can Access
Once installed, these malicious applications can enable hackers to access:
- Passwords
- Banking history
- Sensitive information
- Personal data
This unauthorized access provides cybercriminals with everything they need to impersonate you or even deplete your bank account. Phishing is a technique used by criminals to steal personal data. | Photo: Getty Images/iStockphoto
Kaspersky’s Warning: Fake VPN Applications to Avoid
Kaspersky has identified six applications posing as VPNs that should be deleted immediately:
- MaskVPN
- DewVPN
- PaladinVPN
- ProxyGate
- ShieldVPN
- ShineVPN
Why Are VPNs Used for Fraud?
While it’s true that VPNs are designed to protect electronic devices from cybercriminals and their strategies, some criminals have found ways to make these tools appear harmless. They exploit this perception to spread fraudulent applications.
The core function of a VPN is to encrypt data and hide the user’s IP address. However, the malicious services identified by Kaspersky can transform the mobile devices and terminals where they are installed into proxy ports. This vulnerability gives criminals an opportunity to perform various malicious activities.
Understanding the Magic Behind VPNs
When you activate a VPN, it transforms the way your data is managed and protected. Here’s a breakdown of how it shields your information:
Once a VPN is enabled, all the data you send and receive becomes encrypted. This means your information is converted into a code that is unreadable to outsiders, such as hackers, internet providers, or public network administrators. This encryption is essential for maintaining the privacy and security of your online activities.
Your encrypted data travels through a secure, virtual “tunnel” to reach a VPN server located in a specific region. This tunnel ensures that no one can intercept the data as it moves from your device to the server, providing a safe passage for your information.
Connecting to a VPN server results in the replacement of your original IP address, which usually reveals your location and device. Instead, your IP address is swapped with the server’s IP address, effectively hiding your identity and allowing you to browse as if you were in the server’s region.
Acting as an intermediary, the VPN server manages the interaction between your device and the website or service you wish to access. It receives your requests, forwards them to the final destination, and returns the responses—all while maintaining the encryption and safeguarding your data.
The use of VPNs is crucial in today’s digital age, especially considering how easily individuals can fall victim to online scams.
According to cybersecurity experts like Juan Carlos Bernate, a specialist in the field, there are nine key risk factors that help explain why users often become easy targets for cybercriminals.
Dangerous Links, Weak Passwords, and More Risks to Avoid
One of the most effective methods employed by cybercriminals to execute their scams is through dangerous links. These malicious links typically arrive via emails or fraudulent messages on social media and messaging apps, as these channels are commonly exploited to gain access to users’ devices.
Weak passwords serve as an ideal gateway for cybercriminals. Cybersecurity specialists emphasize the importance of creating strong passwords, avoiding easily memorable ones such as names or birthdates, as this significantly reduces the risk of falling victim to an attack.
Although some files may appear harmless, many are designed to operate stealthily. Downloading files from unknown sources can pose serious threats, as these files might contain hidden malware or spyware waiting to compromise your device.
Key Recommendations: Always verify the source of any link before clicking. Create complex passwords using a mix of letters, numbers, and symbols. Only download files from trusted and verified sources.Once downloaded, these files can install malicious programs that steal personal and banking information without the user’s knowledge.
Social Media, Public Networks, and Other Demons
Reckless use of social media can jeopardize users’ security. Sharing excessive details about daily life makes it easier for criminals to craft more sophisticated and personalized attacks.
Connecting to Wi-Fi networks in public places such as restaurants, parks, or airports puts personal data security at risk. These networks often lack adequate protection measures, allowing attackers to easily infiltrate the devices of users who connect to them.
Scams are becoming increasingly sophisticated thanks to technological advancements. Identity theft is one of the most prevalent cybercrimes, impacting a vast number of individuals. Cybercriminals often exploit popular applications like WhatsApp or Gmail to pose as familiar contacts and acquire sensitive information.
Experts strongly advise against connecting to unfamiliar devices such as USB drives or phones. These devices might harbor spyware programs capable of stealing personal data within seconds. Cybercriminals frequently employ psychological tactics to manipulate individuals into sharing information, downloading malware, or visiting dangerous websites. It’s crucial to be vigilant, especially regarding calls or messages from unknown numbers, as this is a common strategy to deceive people.